valerie-in-mid-life: November 2009

There are so many birthday party options for the kids: movies, craft workshops, laser tag, bowling...someone else does the set up and clean up - we just show up. I don't know why but these parties don't appeal to me. We almost always hold them at the house - in theory its more heartfelt and cheaper - but in reality it is a heck of a lot of work and cost. However, we are a creative, resourceful and big family and it always seems like a good idea to invite everyone into our home for a celebration. This year, Leah wanted to go to Scooter's Roller Palace. But that would involve piling kids in vehicles, and driving them to Mississauga - about 20 minutes away. I guess that I could have had the parents drop off and pick up the kids there, but for some reason, that seemed too impersonal.

Instead, we (Carson and Irma) converted the front room into a spa and treated L and her friends to facials, manicures and massages. 8 girls and 6 "attendants". By all accounts, the afternoon was a success!

I'm sure that had something to do with the staff:

Thank you Evann, Lauren, Irma, Carson and Carol. What a team!

The party kicked off in the hot tub:

Once inside, the girls enjoyed some healthy snacks before their treatments started (thanks again Irma and Carson and Carol for helping with food prep).

Lots of giggles as the girls gave themselves facials. I led this exercise - hair tied back with dollar store hairbands, we buried our faces in warm washcloths, slathered our faces with heavenly scented cleansers, massaged our skin, wiped off the cleansers, then applied moisturizer. I wasn't sure if this would be considered fun for the girls, but was pleasantly surprised as they oohed and aahed over the smells and sensations. I heard one of the girls exclaim "Ooh, my sister is going to be so jealous when she finds out I had a facial!".